Edinburgh

Portrait Photograph

Location: Edinburgh - Liberton HouseType: Unknown Ghost TypeDate / Time: UnknownFurther Comments: A photograph taken in the building is reputed to show a huge phantom face, though it is said that you have to use your imagination to see it properly!

Riders

Location: Edinburgh - Lochend Loch, RestalrigType: Unknown Ghost TypeDate / Time: Sixteenth centuryFurther Comments: As Bessie Dunlop tied her horse to the edge of the loch, she heard the sound of dozens of people on horseback dash past her into the water, although nothing could be seen.

Plague Victims

Location: Edinburgh - Mary King's Close, currently buried under the City ChambersType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: UnknownFurther Comments: A whole host of spectres haunt this area; women, children, old men and even animals have been reported haunting the site over the past 350 years. More recently, there have been reports of a ghostly little girl and an 'impish' young boy. The last occupant of the close was forced to move out in 1898 to make way for the City Chambers extension, which now stands over the area.

Elizabeth Dundas

Location: Edinburgh - Melville Castle HotelType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: 1990sFurther Comments: While the site was being renovated, one witness spotted this phantom walk through a wall.

Death List

Location: Edinburgh - Mercat Cross, High StreetType: OtherDate / Time: 09 September 1513Further Comments: A phantom voice is said to have called out the names of all those who died at the Battle of Flodden on the eve of the fight.

Spottiswode

Location: Edinburgh - Mitre Public House, Royal MileType: PoltergeistDate / Time: UnknownFurther Comments: Archbishop Spottiswode is reported to haunt the building where he concealed his episcopal chair, even though the haunting takes the form of poltergeist activity.

Laughter

Location: Edinburgh - Museum of Childhood, 42 High StreetType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: Twentieth centuryFurther Comments: Laughing, crying and whispering are all said to have been heard coming from empty rooms within the building, and phantom footsteps walk on the upper floors.

Chimney Sweep

Location: Edinburgh - Nicol Edwards public house, Niddry StreetType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: UnknownFurther Comments: This young lad managed to trap himself behind the old chimney stacks in the area and suffocated. He has been reported by members of the public not aware of the story or history.

Fighting

Location: Edinburgh - Old Fish Inn (no longer standing), MurrayfieldType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: 1945 - 1957Further Comments: This building was said to be the haunt of a gang of bandits, one figure was seen in the bar, while the sound of fighting could occasionally be heard in the evening.

Albert

Location: Edinburgh - Playhouse, Greenside PlaceType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: UnknownFurther Comments: Dressed in a grey great coat when seen, Albert prefers to make his presence known by creating cold spots. He is thought to have been either a stagehand who died in an accident or a night watchmen who killed himself.

Crying Girl

Location: Edinburgh - Princes Street, and St John's churchType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: 1987?Further Comments: The crying girl appears to frequent both the church and Princes Street. The little girl sobs into her hands, slowly fading away until completely gone. The gardens of Princes Street were once the 'Nor Loch' - when drained hundreds of bodies were found when the water was drained.

Shadowy Figures

Location: Edinburgh - Private flat in Bruntsfield PlaceType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: 2004Further Comments: Several entities reportedly haunt this building, including cats, a dog, and possibly several people who were mistaken as 'real' by one witness.

Footsteps

Location: Edinburgh - Private flat, Bruntsfield areaType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: 2003 - 2008Further Comments: Disembodied footsteps were heard by members of the family at night and in the early hours of the morning.

Lurking Man

Location: Edinburgh - Private residence along Glenlee AvenueType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: 1970sFurther Comments: A member of the family living in this house reported seeing a man lurking in the kitchen doorway on a number of occasions. On the day the family moved out, they were told that a former owner hanged himself from a wooden beam the cellar, directly under the kitchen door.

Footsteps

Location: Edinburgh - Property along Waterloo PlaceType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: Circa 1997Further Comments: A workman in an empty building heard footsteps running on the floor above. He investigated and found no one. Returning to work, he heard the footsteps again a short time later. Other workers reported disappearing keys and knocking on a toilet door.

Most Haunted House in Edinburgh?

Location: Edinburgh - Quaker Meeting House, Victoria TerraceType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: Around 1780Further Comments: Formally owned by Major Thomas Weir who confessed to witchcraft prior to being executed, this house was considered extremely haunted (one occupier fled after only one night, having encountered a phantom calf) and was thought to have been demolished. However in 2014 it was discovered that it had been modified and incorporated into a new building.

Centaur

Location: Edinburgh - Royal Botanic GardenType: FairyDate / Time: 1960sFurther Comments: Robert Ogilvie Crombie claimed to have encountered a number of mystical creatures here, including a centaur, a faun (called Kurmos) and Pan.

Woman in White

Location: Edinburgh - Royal Circus HotelType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: Early 1970sFurther Comments: At least thee night porters reported seeing this tall, beautiful woman in white with long black hair move quickly down the corridors. Workers demanded to work in pairs until the ghost had been exorcised.

Woman in Blue

Location: Edinburgh - Royal Lyceum Theatre, Grindlay StreetType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: UnknownFurther Comments: Observed in the upper gallery, the woman in blue's history is unknown. Phantom laughter is also said to occasionally echo around the site.

Balancing Woman

Location: Edinburgh - Royal Lyceum, Grindlay StreetType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: UnknownFurther Comments: This spectral figure is seen perched high up on a lighting rig.

Missing Tools

Location: Edinburgh - Rutland Place church (as of March 2010, being converted into public house)Type: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: March 2010Further Comments: The local newspaper reported that workmen have refused to work on the site at night because of strange moving shadows, footsteps in empty parts of the building, and disappearing tools.

Little Girl

Location: Edinburgh - Sheep's Heid Inn, DuddingstonType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: 2006Further Comments: After building work restored the inn to its former glory, a visiting medium reported the ghost of a young girl in the area of the skittle alley. A former landlord who was known as 'The Major' is reputed to haunt the bar area.

Headless Woman with Child

Location: Edinburgh - Site of the Gillespie HospitalType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: Nineteenth centuryFurther Comments: Before the construction of the hospital, the land was given to a mansion that was haunted by a headless lady carrying a small child. When this building was demolished, their bodies were found concealed beneath.

Bloodied Woman

Location: Edinburgh - St Mary's StreetType: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: UnknownFurther Comments: Murdered in 1916, this woman is thought to still stand around the site of her death, looking dazed and confused.

Robert Louis Stevenson

Location: Edinburgh - Stevenson House (was a museum, now a private residence)Type: Haunting ManifestationDate / Time: Twentieth centuryFurther Comments: A phantom which has made the occasional appearance at this locale is named as former owner Robert Louis Stevenson.